A man has admitted causing a police officer serious injury by dangerous driving following a collision while riding a quadbike last month.

But defendant Glen Burdess has denied causing the officer grievous bodily harm with intent, arising from the incident in Mendip Close, Peterlee, shortly after 11pm on Wednesday September 13.

He also denied offences stemming from a previous road traffic incident, also in Peterlee, in which two officers were injured late last year, and he will face a trial next year.

The 27-year-old defendant, of Pentland Close, Peterlee, appeared at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court today (Tuesday October 24) via video link from the city’s nearby prison.

The Northern Echo:

He faced a total of five charges arising from two alleged road traffic incidents.

Burdess pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving, in a BMW 316, on Tweed Close, Peterlee, on December 27, 2022.

He also denied two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, police constables, in the function of their duty, arising from the same set of circumstances.

But he did plead guilty to causing serious injury to another officer by dangerous driving on a quadbike, arising from the incident last month.

Read more: Peterlee man in court after officer injured by quad bike

He denied a further charge, however, of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in the Mendip Close case.

Burdess was said to be riding a Can-Am Outlander machine which struck a police constable, who suffered a broken leg.

The officer was taken to hospital for treatment to the fracture of the calf.

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Glenn Gatland, for Burdess, said he claims that the officer appeared, “out of nowhere” immediately prior to the collision.

A timetable was set prior to the trial for Burdess on the four charges he denies.

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His lawyers must submit a defence case by December 13, with a trial of up to four days’ duration set to start at the court, on Monday February 5, well ahead of the March 26 time limit for the defendant to be detained in custody.

Judge Kidd also said a further case management hearing should be staged at the court, on January 25, to ensure everything is on course for the start of the trial.

Burdess was remanded to remain in custody to appear at the pre-trial hearing via video link, again, but in person for the trial.